WWE Raw: Recap, Reaction, Results (April 16, 2018)

Last night’s WWE RAW, coming to you from the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut begins with RAW General Manager, Kurt Angle coming out to discuss how there will be new faces and big surprises but Sadil Singh interrupts him, who introduces Jinder Mahal, the US Champion. The two talk for a few minutes before Angle cajoles Mahal into defending his Championship right now against anyone wanting it – when Jeff Hardy comes out. Mahal goes right to the gut of Hardy, backing him into a corner immediately and stomping him. The two trade moves before Hardy finally becomes a grand slam champion by winning the US Championship by pinning Mahalfollowing a Swanton Bomb.

Bayley vs Sasha Banks is next, with Bayley managing to attach Banks outside of the ring and into the barricade early on. However, Banks dominates later in the match, with Bayley nearly tapping out to the Banks Statement before Smackdown’s Riott Squad interrupts, causing the match to end in disqualification.

The Miz and his Miztourage are out to interview someone from Smackdown. He introduces Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, who come to the ring happy and grinning, which is exactly how I feel. The Miz goes on about how great the men in the ring are, and how they don’t have to deal with the egotistical Shane McMahon’s of the world. Angle interrupts, saying The Miz doesn’t have control of who hired or fired. Zayn reads a letter from Stephanie McMahon, inviting Owens and Zayn to RAW. Angle accepts this before saying that The Miz is moving over to Smackdown as Daniel Bryan was very adamant on having him over in the land of opportunities. The Miz responds that the Miztourage and himself will make Smackdown the number one show just like they did before – that is, until Angle says The Miz is the only one going to Smackdown and his Miztourage are staying on RAW, and oh yeah, there’s going to be a 10-man tag match as the main event tonight: The Miz, his Miztourage, Zayn and Owens vs Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, Braun Strowman, Bobby Lashley and a superstar debuting on RAW tonight.

Woken Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt vs The Revival as part of the last Tag Team Qualifying Matches is next, with the winner going onto face Sheamus and Cesaro at The Greatest Royal Rumble. The Revival is dominant early on, but Wyatt and Hardy pick up the win.

Nia Jax heads to commentary to watch Ember Moon vs Mickie James next. Alexa Bliss is also meant to be out on commentary but is missing in action. The match begins with James and Moon battling for control, as we’re taken to Bliss, who is backstage, claiming she doesn’t want to be on commentary with Jax out there as Jax has bullied her, causing numerous female wrestling fans around the world to roll their eyes. Moon and James continue to battle, both equally holding their hold with right hands, kicks and suplexes, with Moon eventually pinning James with the Eclipse.

Dolph Ziggler comes out next talking about how he still steals the show, only to be interrupted by Titus O’Neil and his Worldwide crew – Apollo and Dana Brooke. O’Neil invites Ziggler into his Worldwide crew, where Zigglerdeclines, stating he “didn’t come to RAW, alone,” with Drew McIntyre attacking O’Neil from behind.

Roman Reigns comes out next, talking about how he’s here once again and Lesnar isn’t, and how he’s going to be leaving Lesnar in the steel cage match. Before he can continue though, Samoa Joe interrupts, with the two men essentially repeating their segment from last week talking about literally, the same thing they discussed the previous week before.

Mandy Rose, assisted by Sonya Deville, comes out to wrestle Natalya. The match is short with Deville distracting Natalya for a quick moment so Rose can get a few defensive moves in before eventually, Natalya submits Rose with the Sharpshooter.

We find out that Baron Corbin has also move to RAW and up next is Tyler Breeze and Fandango vs The Bar. While it seems like Cesaro and Sheamus are in control the entirety of their match, Breeze and Fandango manage to pin Cesaro, taking the win with a rollup from Breeze.

Up next is the 10-man tag team match with The Miz, Curtis Axel, Bo Dallas, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn vs Finn Balor, Bobby Lashley, Braun Strowman, Seth Rollins and a surprise wrestler, Bobby Roode. The match starts off with Rollins and Owens, the two throwing punches before we go to a commercial break. Between Suplexes, Kicks, Punches, DDTs and Roll Ups, the match continues to go back and forth before eventually, when the Miz goes to tag his Miztourage, they remove themselves from his corner and walk away, allowing Strowman to pin him.

The show ends, and we wonder, with RAW housing so many new Superstars, just who is going over to Smackdown.